Methods and Apparatus For Navigational Routing

ABSTRACT

Systems and techniques for updated routing are described. A device computes a route from an origin to a destination and provides updated navigation information as a user travels along the route. In response to a change in orientation of the device, a display element is presented indicating the orientation of the device, allowing the user to enter an indication to compute an updated routing based on the orientation of the device. In one or more embodiments of the invention, a user may be presented with routing information such as time and distance information based on potential routing computed a detected orientation of an orientation detection device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority as a continuation of co-pending U.S.application Ser. No. 13/419,769, filed on Mar. 14, 2012 and incorporatedby reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The exemplary and non-limiting embodiments of this invention relategenerally to navigation devices. More particularly, the inventionrelates to improved techniques for determining a route in a navigationdevice.

BACKGROUND

One notable result of the continued miniaturization and widespreadavailability of electronic devices has been the availability of handheldmapping and direction finding devices. Many handheld navigation devicesare available that allow a user to select an origin point and adestination point, with the device then plotting a route to thedestination point. The origin point may be a user's location or someother origin point, and once the user has started on the route, thedevice is able to show the user his or her position on the route andvarious factors relating to progress along the route.

SUMMARY

According to one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus comprises atleast one processor and memory storing computer program code. Thecomputer program code is configured to, with the memory and the at leastone processor, cause the apparatus to perform actions comprising atleast identifying an origin and a destination for navigation, receivingan input from a user directing computation of a route to thedestination, determining orientation information based on the user inputand, upon determining the orientation information, computing the routeto the destination comprising a portion lying in a direction of anorientation indicated by the orientation information.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a method comprisesconfiguring at least one processor to cause an apparatus to performactions comprising at least selecting an origin and a destination fornavigation, detecting an orientation of a navigational device, andcomputing a first route to the destination, comprising a portion lyingin a direction of the orientation of the device.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a computer readablemedium stores a program of instructions. Execution of the program ofinstructions by a processor configures an apparatus to perform at leastidentifying an origin and a destination for navigation, receiving aninput from a user directing computation of a route to the destination,determining orientation information based on the user input and, upondetermining the orientation information, computing the route to thedestination comprising a portion lying in a direction of an orientationindicated by the orientation information.

In another embodiment an apparatus comprises at least one processor andmemory storing computer program code. The computer program code isconfigured to, with the memory and the at least one processor, cause theapparatus to perform actions comprising at least identifying ageographic location, receiving orientation information based on a userinput and, upon determining that the geographic location is more than aspecified distance from a nearest street, identifying a street nearestthe identified geographic location and in a direction indicated by theorientation information.

These and other embodiments and aspects are detailed below withparticularity.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a device according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate successive stages of updated route computationaccording to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates the presentation to a user of route information forroutes determined according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate stages of route computation according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate stages of route computation according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a process according to an embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a process according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention recognize that particularly in thecase of handheld navigational devices used by pedestrians, a user maywish to change a route once he or she has begun traveling the route. Inparticular, a user may wish to change a routing to a destination, orexplore the effects of changing the routing, without changing thedestination. One or more embodiments of the invention, therefore providesimple, intuitive mechanisms that allow a user to propose or enter suchchanges in routing. In one or more embodiments of the invention a usermay point a device in a desired alternative direction and receiveinformation about a routing passing through the alternative direction,such as the time and distance to the destination following thealternative routing versus the time and distance following the originalrouting. In one or more further embodiments of the invention, the devicemay simply present information relating to the difference between anoriginal route and a possible alternative route, such as that thealternative route would be estimate to take 5 minutes longer than theoriginal route, or that the alternative route cannot lead to thedestination—for example, because it is initiated at a dead-end street.Embodiments of the present invention provide mechanisms to calculateroutes without, for example, manually selecting a waypoint or draggingan existing route, or actually walking along a contemplated new routeuntil a device recalculates the route.

FIG. 1 illustrates a navigational device 100 according to an embodimentof the present invention. For simplicity, the navigational device 100 ispresented here as a device directed only to routing and navigation. Itwill, however, be recognized that many multipurpose devices, such aswireless communication devices operating in systems such as long termevolution (LTE) wireless networks provide navigational capabilitiesusing both self-contained map and navigational data and data gatheredthrough the communication capabilities of the device. Embodiments of thepresent invention may be easily be adapted for use in devices thatprovide navigational services, whether or not these devices provideadditional services as well.

The device 100 comprises a location finding module 102, which mayinclude a global positioning system (GPS) receiver 104, GPS antenna 106,and GPS processing module 108, which manages the operation of the GPSreceiver 104 and processes the data received therefrom to identify thelocation of the GPS receiver 104, which naturally is the same as thelocation of the device 100. The device 100 further includes a processor110, memory 112, and storage 114, communicating with one another andwith the GPS processing module 108 over a bus 116. The device 100farther employs data 118 and software 120, suitably residing in storage114 and transferred to memory 112 as needed for use by the processor110. The storage 114 and the memory 112 may comprise any suitable memorydevice or devices, and it will be recognized that the use of thedifferent terms “storage” and “memory” is non-limiting. The software maycomprise one or more programs of instructions executable by a processor.The device 100 also suitably comprises a user interface 122, which insome embodiments comprises a touchscreen display device 124. It will berecognized, however, that a touchscreen display is not necessary to theoperation of the invention, and that numerous mechanisms for presentinginformation to the user and receiving inputs from the user may beemployed. For example, manual inputs and display may be accomplishedusing separate input and display devices. Alternatively or in addition,the user interface 122 may comprise an audio input/output device 126,comprising a microphone 128 and speaker 130, and using a speechrecognition and synthesis module 132. The speech recognition andsynthesis module 132 may suitably be implemented as part of the software120. The user interface 122 may also be considered to include devicesdetecting movements and changes in orientation of the device 100,because such movements and changes may occur as purposeful user inputs.The devices may, for example, include a compass module 134 and anaccelerometer module 136, comprising one or more accelerometers. It willbe recognized that the outputs of devices such as the compass module 134and the accelerometer module 136 may be put to numerous purposes,including purposes other than recognizing user inputs, and it is onlyfor convenience that these devices are here presented as being part ofor associated with the user interface 122.

The data 118 may suitably include map data 138 as part of the data 118,and a navigational module 140 as part of the software 120. Thenavigational module 140 gathers relevant data from the map data 138, aswell as location information from the location finding module 102, topresent a display to the user. The user is able to enter commands andmake selections using the user interface 122, and the navigationalmodule 140 processes the commands and selections and any other userinputs, map data, and location data to present updated map and routingdata. Such data may be presented, for example, using the touch screendisplay 124, the audio input/output device, or both. Routing data mayinclude route origin and destination points, position of the user alongthe route, distance from origin to destination, distance traveled, timeon route, estimated total time and remaining time to destination, andany other relevant information. The navigational module 140 may provideany of a number of mechanisms to allow a user to set an initial route.For example, an origin point may be selected by a search, by automaticrecognition of the current location of the device, by selection of apoint on a map display followed by confirmation, or by any number ofalternative mechanisms. The destination point may be selected by adesired mechanism, and the user may also establish waypoints along theroute. The user may then begin to navigate along the route, with thedevice 100 providing directional information, such as instructions toturn left or right, to walk along one street or another, or, once thedestination has been reached, to stop.

In addition to providing mechanisms for establishing and navigatingalong a route, the navigational module 140 allows a user to change theroute by simple and intuitive actions, employing the user interface 122or taking advantage of other characteristics of the device 100.

The accelerometer module 136 may be used to recognize user actions suchas tilting of the device 100. For example, the accelerometer module 136may detect a tilting action and provide data indicating detection of thetilting action. The navigational module 140 may be configured to performappropriate actions in response to the data provided by theaccelerometer. Such actions may include any appropriate action that maybe based on recognition of a deliberate user action, such computation ordisplay of a route, display of information. In some embodiments of theinvention, recognition of appropriate accelerometer data may be treatedas a user confirmation, allowing a user to direct entry of a suggestedcommand by tilting or otherwise moving the device.

It will be further recognized that while the device 100 is presentedhere as a handheld device, many other embodiments may be contemplated.For example, one or more embodiments of the invention may comprise awearable device 150, for example in the form of goggles. The wearabledevice 150 may comprise one or more display devices 152 and 154 similarto the display device 122, and may include a compass module 156 similarto the compass module 134 and an accelerometer module 158 similar to theaccelerometer module 136, so that a user could be presented with routeselections and select or confirm commands by simple movements. Forexample, a user might look down a street. The device would detect achange in orientation and present a possible route, and the user couldthen confirm selection of the route by nodding his or her head, causingan accelerometer to recognize tilting of the device. A wearable devicesuch as the device 150 is particularly useful in cases in which a user'shands are occupied, such as bicycling or motorcycling. As noted above,user inputs need not be manual inputs, and a device such as the device150 can be easily configured to develop a route and change the route ifneed be without using his or her hands to manipulate the device. Forexample, a user can select origin and destination locations throughspoken commands, and can easily initiate or change routing by changingthe orientation of the device.

A single device 100 has been presented here for simplicity, but it willbe recognized that various functions may be separated. For example, inthe case of a wearable device, it may be desired to implement detectionof orientation and user actions indicating confirmation, but not todisplay routing using the wearable device. Alternatively or in addition,the wearable device 150 or a similar device might not comprise displaydevices such as the display devices 152 and 154. A wearable device maysimply comprise a compass module, an accelerometer module, or both, andmay be connected wirelessly or by wire to a device such as the device100, so that when the wearable device is so connected, the device 100will receive the inputs provided by the wearable device, but when thewearable device is not connected, the device 100 may take orientationand other movement information from its own orientation and movements. Auser might, for example, turn his or her head in a direction of apossible route, and information relating to the movement might bedetected by a wearable device such as the device 150 and delivered tothe device 100.

It will further be recognized that devices such as the device 100 andthe device 150 may obtain location information from numerous sourcesother than or in addition to the global positioning system. For example,if the device 100 is implemented as a user device or user equipment (UE)in a wireless cellular system, the device 100 may comprise a long termevolution (LTE) module 160 that communicates with base stations and maycompute approximate location information from such communication. Inaddition, the device 100 may comprise an indoor location module 162. Theindoor location module 162 may be configured to receive localshort-distance broadcasts of location information inside a building. Forexample, a building may deploy transmitters sufficiently numerous toallow properly equipped devices within the building to determine theirlocation within the building. The indoor location module 162 may, forexample, have access to stored building map information 164 or mayreceive such information as part of a broadcast by transmitters withinthe building. Location information provided by indoor location module162 might be used in finding a route through a building, particularly toan emergency exit from a building in the case of an emergency. Forexample, a user may enter an input indicating a desire to exit in caseof an emergency, or a signal broadcast by the building and received andinterpreted by the indoor location module 162 may include an evacuationindicator, causing the device 100 to display an exit route. In lessurgent circumstances, a user may simply enter an input indicating adesire for guidance in exiting or navigating through a building.

The navigation module 140 may present a route to an exit of thebuilding, or to another destination of the building, and may receive andinterpret orientation information in the same manner as described abovein connection with outdoor navigation. For example, in the case of anemergency evacuation, a user may come to an impassable pathway and maypoint the device 100 in a different direction to cause calculation of analternative route. The device 100 may calculate the route or may presenta notification that no route is available in the direction indicated,allowing the user to point the device in a further different directionand attempt to calculate a route in that direction.

The device 100 may also have access to public transport information,which may be stored or may be accessible, for example, through the LTEmodule 160. The navigation module 140 is able to examine such publictransport information, and either the public transport information orthe map data 138. The navigation module 140 may be configured torecognize from a combination of orientation information and locationinformation that a user wishes to use public transportation as part of aroute, and design a route including the use of public transport as partof the route. For example, if a user is near a subway station and pointsthe device 100 downward, or is near a bus stop and points the device 100at a bus stop shelter, the navigation module 140 may recognize that theuser wishes to use public transport beginning at the indicated stop, andcompute a route accordingly. However, depending on the particularcircumstances, the navigation module may compute and present a differentroute. For example, if an express bus stop is nearby, but only a localbus stops at the user's location, the navigation module 140 may computeand present a route requiring the user to walk to the express bus stopin order to take advantage of a faster route.

FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate a sequence of operations performed using thedisplay device 124 in order to recalculate a route from an origin to adestination along a new routing. FIG. 2A illustrates a display 200presented by the display device 124, showing a portion 202 of a routethat was previously calculated by the device 100. The symbol 204illustrates the current location of the device 100, and a beacon 206extends from the symbol in the geographical direction toward which thedevice 100 is oriented. In the present exemplary case, the device 100 isoriented in an easterly direction, so that the beacon 206 extends inthat direction. The beacon 206 intersects a street 208, so that thebeacon extends in a navigable direction.

FIG. 2B illustrates the display 200 as it presents an indication that aselection of an alternative routing is underway. In the present example,a user is touching the display device 124 at the beacon 206, indicatinga desire to perform a route computation in the direction in which thebeacon 206 is pointing. The beacon 206 has changed in appearance,indicating that the user input has been noted. FIG. 2C illustrates thedisplay 200 as the navigation module 140 continues to process the userinput. The beacon 206 has further changed in appearance, indicating thatthe user input has been accepted and that the rerouting is beingprocessed.

The navigation module 140 may process possible alternative routings in anumber of ways. For example, in the case being illustrated here, thebeacon 206 encompasses a street, so that the beacon 206 is clearlypointing in a navigable direction. In one embodiment of the invention,the navigation module 140 may evaluate the nature of the element towhich the beacon 206 is directed. For example, if the beacon 206 is notpointing along a street, a user input indicating a desire to reroute maybe rejected. Such a situation may arise, for example, when the beacon ispointing at a corner or perpendicularly at a street, rather than along astreet, so that actual direction indicated by the beacon is ambiguous orunnavigable. In another alternative embodiment, the navigation module140 may calculate an optimum alternative route using a navigable pointintersected by the beacon 206 even if the beacon 206 does not lie alonga navigable path. In another embodiment, if the beacon 206 does notintersect a navigable point, the navigation module 140 may select anavigable point near the point intersected by the beacon 206 and use theselected point as an entry point to an optimum alternative route.

It will also be recognized that a user may use a device such as thedevice 100 when away from any streets. In some such cases a user maywish not to reach a particular specified destination, but may wishinstead simply to get back to a street. Therefore, in one or moreembodiments of the invention, the navigation module 140 may useorientation information not to calculate a route but to determineinformation useful for reaching a street. Such information may includedistance and direction, and may take into account the presence ofobstacles. As a user holds the device 100 and turns in a circle or partof a circle, the navigation module 140 may receive the orientationinformation indicating such turning, and may identify the street nearestto the user. The navigation module 140 may, if so configured, ignorestreets to which a user's path is blocked by an obstacle, and may,alternatively or in addition, identify alternative streets which may befarther away but to which the user's path is not blocked. If it is soconfigured, the navigation module 140 may ignore streets to which theuser's path is blocked, and instead identify and present distance anddirection information to the nearest reachable street. As the userturns, the navigation module 140 may identify each street toward whichan orientation detection device is directed—for example, the compassmodule 134 of the device 100. Once the user is no longer turning, thenavigation module 140 may cause selection and presentation ofinformation for the nearest street, the first two or three neareststreets, the nearest or first two or three nearest reachable streets, orany other suitable information desired. The user need not turn in acomplete circle, and the cessation of orientation changes may berecognized as indicating a desire for presentation of information basedon the choices that have already been identified.

FIG. 2D illustrates the display 200 after the user input has beenaccepted and processed and a new route 208 has been calculated. The userhas proceeded some distance along the recalculated route and the beacon206 points directly along the route. In addition, an arrow 210 can beseen indicating the direction along the route. It can be seen that theroute 208 takes a left turn and then takes a right turn to rejoin theoriginal route, because such a routing is optimal after the requirementto proceed in the indicated direction has been met. If the user wishesto continue in his or her present direction, it is a simple matter toorient the device 100 to indicate the desired direction and make anotherselection to force another rerouting. Numerous mechanisms might be usedto make the selection, such as tilting the device, or an audio command.In addition, it will be recognize that the navigation module 126 mightrequire a specific indication before presenting the beacon 206, in orderto avoid clutter on the display 200. In addition, a route reversal mayalso be tentatively recognized and then confirmed by the user when achange in orientation of 180 degrees or thereabouts is detected. Such aroute reversal may involve not the calculation of routing to theoriginal destination, but instead may comprise selection of the point oforigin as a destination and compute a route from the current position tothe origin. The reversal may be confirmed only upon a user selection.

According to one or more alternative embodiments of the invention, auser is able to evaluate alternative possible routings by pointing thedevice 100 in differing directions and seeing information relating to apotential routing in each direction. For example, FIG. 3 illustrates auser 300 holding a device such as the device 100. The user has selecteda destination, but has not yet decided which routing to follow. The useris facing an intersection 304 between roads 306 and 308. The user cansee that she will take 21 minutes to reach her destination by followinga route that begins along the road 306 and will take 24 minutes to reachher destination by following a route that begins along the road 308. Inthe case of the device 100, the compass module 134 provides informationthat can be used by the navigation module 140 to determine theorientation of the device, and the navigation module 140 can use theorientation information together with the map data 138 to identify theroad at which the user is pointing, and can perform routing calculationsto identify a proposed route in order to deliver information about theroute to the user. Such routing calculations can be performed withoutimmediately selecting or displaying the route determined by thecalculation as the route to be followed, and may instead simply presentdesired information such as time or distance information. Once the useris aware of this information, she may ignore the information, or maytake appropriate actions to actually replace the original route with thenew one.

If desired, a device such as the device 100 might operate in modes inwhich the routing is suspended whenever an intersection is reached, sothat the user may evaluate potential routings. Such a mode might be a“stroll mode” or a “tourist mode”, employed when a user is notparticular about arriving at a destination at any specific time. Ifdesired, the user might not choose to look at the actual routing, butmight instead simply evaluate a direction at each intersection based oncriteria such as that the routing along one road is shorter, or that therouting is not excessively longer along a street exhibiting sights inwhich the user is interested. If desired, the computation of, andpresentation of information relating to, a potential routing may beperformed only upon a user selection.

At any time, the user may view the routing that has been calculated tofurnish the time information or other information by which the userchooses directions. The user may then select a route to be followedunless a new selection is actively made.

It will be recognized that the calculation of an alternative route, andnot merely the viewing of the route, might depend on a user selection orother predetermined circumstances. For example, a user might tilt thedevice 100 or touch the display device 124 or give an audio command, andthe navigation module 140 might then calculate the new route and presentrelevant information such as comparative travel times and distances, butstill might not yet display the new route. The new route might bedisplayed upon a further command.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate alternative routings calculated in responseto different orientations of a device such as the device 100. Each ofthe alternative routings may be presented, for example upon a userselection to display a route that has been computed in order to provideinformation relating to the route, such as time or distance information.

FIG. 4A illustrates a display 400 showing a routing 402, from an originpoint 404 to a destination point 406. The routing 402 may be calculatedupon detection of an orientation of a device such as the device 100 inthe easterly direction shown as the beginning of the route and displayedunder appropriate circumstances. FIG. 4B illustrates a display 400showing an alternative routing 408, from the origin point 404 to thedestination point 406. This routing 408 is calculated in response todetection of orientation of the device in the direction 410. Calculationof the route may comprise, for example, setting of a waypoint at thenext intersection toward which the device is oriented. For example, thedevice may be pointing directly at the intersection, or may be pointingalong a street that leads to an intersection, with this intersectionbeing used as the waypoint. Such waypoint selection may be invisible toa user.

As an alternative, pointing along a street in a particular directionmight force selection of an immediate segment to be used for calculationof a new route.

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a change from an existing routing to a newrouting. FIG. 5A illustrates a display 500, showing an origin 502 and adestination 504. The point 506 shows a location of the device presentingthe display 500, and the pointer 508 shows the orientation of thedevice. The route 510 has been previously calculated, and the arrow 512extends in the direction indicated by the 510, upon a touch indicating adesire by a user to recompute a route. FIG. 5B illustrates the display500, showing the origin 502, the destination 504, the point 506, and thepointer 508. The visible portions of the recomputed route 514 are alsoshown, with portions of the route 514 being currently out of thedisplayed area.

FIG. 6 illustrates a process 600 of route computation according to anembodiment of the present invention. At step 602, a device acceptsentries from a user indicating an origin and a destination. At step 604,the device computes a route from the origin to the destination. At step606, the device periodically updates the route in response to detectionof changes in the location of the device.

At step 608, the device detects a change in orientation and presents adisplay element indicating the orientation of the device. At step 610,upon an indication by a user to create an updated route along thedirection indicated by the display element, the device creates theupdated route. At step 612, the device updates the route and providesindications of progress along the route as it detects changes inlocation.

FIG. 7 illustrates a process 700 of providing comparative routinginformation according to an embodiment of the present invention. At step702, as a user approaches an intersection of two possible paths, adevice presents information relating to a routing including a portionalong a direction of the orientation of the device. The information mayinclude distance to destination, estimated time to destination, or otherappropriate information. At step 704, as a change in orientation of thedevice is detected, a new possible routing is calculated and informationis presented relating to the new possible routing. At step 706, upon auser selection, a possible routing in a direction of the orientation ofthe device is displayed, with the display changing as appropriate withchanges in orientation. At step 708, upon a user selection, a possibleroute computed in response to a detection of orientation of the deviceis selected for navigation.

While various exemplary embodiments have been described above it shouldbe appreciated that the practice of the invention is not limited to theexemplary embodiments shown and discussed here. Various modificationsand adaptations to the foregoing exemplary embodiments of this inventionmay become apparent to those skilled in the relevant arts in view of theforegoing description.

Further, some of the various features of the above non-limitingembodiments may be used to advantage without the corresponding use ofother described features.

The foregoing description should therefore be considered as merelyillustrative of the principles, teachings and exemplary embodiments ofthis invention, and not in limitation thereof.

We claim:
 1. An apparatus comprising: at least one processor; memorystoring computer program code; wherein the computer program code isconfigured to, with the memory and the at least one processor, cause theapparatus to perform actions comprising at least: identifying an originand a destination for navigation; receiving an input from a userdirecting computation of a route to the destination; determiningorientation information based on signals from an orientation detectiondevice whose orientation is directed by the user, wherein the signalsfrom the orientation detection device indicate orientation of theorientation detection device; and in response to determining theorientation information, computing the route to the destination, whereinthe route is computed so as to comprise a street segment lying along adirection indicated by the orientation.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the actions further comprise presenting a display to a userindicating the orientation of the orientation detection device andwherein computing the route is performed in response to receiving theuser after presentation of the display.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the actions further comprise presenting to the user an estimateof the estimated time required to follow the route.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the actions further comprise presenting to the user anindication of the distance from the origin to the destination of theroute.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actions further comprisedisplaying the route to the user in response to selection by the user.6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the actions further compriseselecting the route for navigation in response to a selection by theuser.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the actions further comprisereceiving location information and computing and presenting updatedlocation information as the apparatus moves from one location toanother.
 8. A method comprising: configuring at least one processor tocause an apparatus to perform actions comprising at least: identifyingan origin and a destination for navigation; receiving an input from auser directing computation of a route to the destination; determiningorientation information based on signals from an orientation detectiondevice whose orientation is directed by the user, wherein the signalsfrom the orientation detection device indicate orientation of theorientation detection device; and in response to determining theorientation information, computing the route to the destination, whereinthe route is computed so as to comprise a street segment lying along adirection indicated by the orientation.
 9. The method of claim 8,wherein the actions further comprise presenting a display to a userindicating the orientation of the orientation detection device andwherein computing the route is performed in response to receiving theuser input after presentation of the display.
 10. The method of claim 8,wherein the actions further comprise presenting to the user an estimateof the estimated time required to follow the route.
 11. The method ofclaim 8, wherein the actions further comprise presenting to the user anindication of the distance from the origin to the destination of theroute.
 12. The method of claim 8, wherein the actions further comprisedisplaying the route to the user in response to selection by the user.13. The method of claim 8, wherein the actions further compriseselecting the route for navigation in response to a selection by theuser.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the actions further comprisereceiving location information and computing and presenting updatedlocation information as the orientation detection device moves from onelocation to another.
 15. A non-transitory computer readable mediumstoring a program of instructions, execution of which by at least oneprocessor configures an apparatus to perform actions comprising atleast: identifying an origin and a destination for navigation; receivingan input from a user directing computation of a route to thedestination; determining orientation information based on signals froman orientation detection device whose orientation is directed by theuser, wherein the signals from the orientation detection device indicateorientation of the orientation detection device; and in response todetermining the orientation information, computing the route to thedestination, wherein the route is computed so as to comprise a streetsegment lying along a direction indicated by the orientation.
 16. Thecomputer readable medium of claim 15, wherein the actions furthercomprise presenting a display to a user indicating the orientation ofthe orientation detection device and wherein computing the route isperformed in response to receiving the user input.
 17. The computerreadable medium of claim 15, wherein the actions further comprisepresenting to the user an estimate of the estimated time required tofollow the route.
 18. The computer readable medium of claim 15, whereinthe actions further comprise presenting to the user the distance fromthe origin to the destination of the route.
 19. The computer readablemedium of claim 15, wherein the actions further comprise displaying theroute to the user in response to selection by the user.
 20. The computerreadable medium of claim 15, wherein the actions further comprisereceiving location information and computing and presenting updatedlocation information as the apparatus moves from one location toanother.